Osun

Teachers’ Recruitment: Human Rights Group Faults Adeleke Over Delay In Appointment Letters

ByYusuf Oketola

PublishedApril 11, 2025

A nongovernmental organisation, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has expressed disappointment in the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke over the prolonged delay in the issuance of appointment letters to the shortlisted candidates for the 2024 teachers’ recruitment in the state.

CDHR, in a letter dated April 8, 2025, signed by its chairman in Osun State, Comrade Emmanuel Olowu and addressed to Governor Adeleke and the Ministry of Education, said the delay is having a negative impact on the education system of Osun State, as the vacancies remain unfilled, resulting in increased workload for the already existing staff.

Olowu urged the government to take prompt action to alleviate the situation by immediately allocating appointment letters to all qualified applicants, adding that the deployment of ‘Imole Youth Corps’ to teach in public schools may cause damage to the future of children in the state considering the technical skill of teaching.

The human rights group however issued a 5-day ultimatum to the state government to conclude the process.

A copy of the letter made available to OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday reads, “We write to address the long-overdue allocation of appointment letters to qualified applicants who participated in the recent teachers recruitment exercise conducted by the Osun State Government under your administration.

“Your Excellency Sir, On February 16th, 2024, you approved the immediate recruitment of Five Thousand (5,000) teachers for both Primary and Secondary Schools and Two Hundred and Fifty (250) education officers in Osun State.

“The recruitment process involved the sale of application forms for the sum of Two Thousand Naira (₦2000.00k), which thirty-two thousand (32,000) applicants registered for. Twenty-nine thousand (29,000) applicants accessed the internet for the examination, while Twenty-Seven thousand (27,000) applicants wrote the examination properly.

“It should be noted that the application lasted for two weeks, specifically from February 16th to February 30th, 2024, and Thirty-Two Thousand (32,000) applicants applied in just two weeks, which points to the unemployment rate in the state.

“The examination to examine the applicant was held on the 27th and 28th of March, 2024, and on the 17th of April, 2024, the examination result was released and an interview for shortlisted candidates was conducted from Monday, September 9th to Friday, September 13th, 2024.

“However, despite the aforementioned timeline, the process has been delayed for an extended period, stretching to approximately thirteen (13) months, with no clear communication regarding the allocation of appointment letters to the successful candidates.

“This delay has had a negative impact on the education system of Osun State, as the vacancies remain unfilled, resulting in increased workload for the already existing staff and contributing to negatively to the overall output of Osun education..

“We appreciate your effort to have properly broken all odds to approve the full implementation of the Teachers Enlongation policy in Osun State, which the beneficiaries are presently supporting the existing teaching workforce in the state.

“People of Osun State and is unacceptable because the education sector is presently suffering while the potential and eagerness of the successful applicant to contribute to the educational advancement of the state has been jeopardized.

“We also will like to draw your attention to the use of Imole Youth Corps in lieu of the professionally trained teachers in our schools, they are mostly untrained and will cause more damage to the education of our children. This abberration should be stopped immediately sir

“The Osun State Government must take prompt action to alleviate the situation by immediately allocating appointment letters to all qualified applicants. This will ensure that the educational system receives the necessary support in terms of qualified teaching personnel, thereby preventing further disruptions and inefficiencies in the public schools across the state.

“We, therefore, urge you to immediately compel the Ministry of Education to release the appointment letters within the next five (5) days, swiftly to ensure that the education system of the state is not further compromised.

“We thank you for your attention to this matter and we look forward to your prompt response and positive action.”

Yusuf Oketola

Yusuf Oketola is a trained journalist with over five years of experience in the media industry. He has worked for both print and online medium. He is a thorough-bred professional with an eye of hindsight on issues bothering on social justice, purposeful leadership, and a society where the leaders charge and work for the prosperity of the people.